The relationship between obesity and diabetes
COURIER LIFE, NOV. 1-7, 2019 31
early 26 million Americans
have diabetes, and
two million new cases
are diagnosed each year.
Diabetes is a leading cause
of blindness, heart disease,
stroke and kidney disease in
the United States. With some
careful planning and attention,
complications of diabetes
can be prevented and the
disease can be managed or
prevented altogether.
Diabetes is a condition
in which a patient has high
amounts of blood sugar, either
because the body cannot
produce sufficient amounts
of insulin (a hormone that
transfers glucose from the
bloodstream to the cells), or
as a result of improper response
to insulin in the body.
There are two types of diabetes—
Type 1 and Type 2. Both
types affect the way in which
the body converts food into
energy.
“The disease stems from
a problem in the pancreas,
which is an organ that produces
various enzymes to
aid the body in the digestive
process,” explains Edmund
Giegerich, MD, chief of endocrinology
at NewYork-Presbyterian
Brooklyn Methodist
Hospital. “The pancreas
is also responsible for converting
sugar from food into
energy through the secretion
of insulin. The failure of the
pancreas to produce or secrete
sufficient quantities of
insulin results in diabetes.”
People with Type 1 diabetes
are born with a genetic
predisposition to the disease
and cannot produce the insulin
needed to convert sugars
from food (glucose) into energy.
Type 1 diabetes is most
commonly diagnosed in children
(it is often referred to as
juvenile diabetes), and only
five percent of cases fall into
this category. Type 1 diabetes
is a chronic disease that cannot
be prevented or reversed
through lifestyle choices, although
changes in lifestyle
can help with its management.
Symptoms of Type 1 diabetes
may include frequent urination,
unusual thirst and
extreme fatigue.
Type 2 diabetes is the most
common type of diabetes.
It is a chronic disease that
most often develops through
a combination of lifestyle and
genetic factors. People with
Type 2 diabetes have two issues
with insulin: the body
does not recognize the insulin
that is produced (insulin
resistance) and does not produce
sufficient insulin (secretion
deficit). People with
Type 2 diabetes may experience
any of the Type 1 diabetes
symptoms, as well as
blurred vision, numbness in
the hands and feet and recurring
bladder infections.
Physicians treating diabetes
may ask patients to monitor
their blood glucose levels
every day, using a meter that
evaluates the glucose level
from a drop of the blood. If
the glucose level is found to
be too high or too low, the
patient can make dietary
changes to get the glucose
back into a healthy range. In
addition to advising patients
on proper nutrition and exercise,
a doctor may prescribe a
medication to help keep glucose
levels in check.
“Patients already diagnosed
with Type 1 or Type 2
diabetes can reduce the risk
of developing other health
complications, like kidney
disease or high cholesterol
by maintaining a healthy
lifestyle. It is not possible to
cure the disease, but many
patients with diabetes live
long and healthy lives when
their disease is kept under
control,” says Dr. Giegerich.
To schedule an appointment
with an endocrinologist
affiliated with NYP Brooklyn
Methodist Hospital, please
call 718-499-2273 or visit www.
nyp.org/brooklyn.
Health
Diabetes is a disease that
makes it diffi cult for
the body to manage its
blood-glucose levels. Diabetes
is broken down into two
types: type 1 diabetes, which
occurs when the pancreas
cannot adequately produce
enough insulin to regulate
blood sugar; and type 2 diabetes,
which occurs when the
body either resists the effects
of insulin or does not produce
enough to maintain a normal
blood sugar level.
The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention reports
type 2 diabetes has
been occurring with increasing
frequency among American
children and adolescents
over the past 20 years. The
Mayo Clinic says 90 percent
of diabetes cases are type 2,
and 80 percent of these people
are overweight.
Being overweight or obese
is a signifi cant risk factor
for type 2 diabetes, but many
people do not know why.
There is some evidence that
fat cells are more resistant to
insulin than muscle cells. In
addition, being overweight
taxes the body in other ways
and can put more pressure
on the body’s ability to properly
control blood sugar and
use insulin.
Carbohydrate-rich diets
full of simple sugars and refi
ned foods can cause unhealthy
spikes in blood-glucose
readings. Individuals
who overeat and lead sedentary
lifestyles may not burn
enough energy, and excess
calories are then stored as fat,
compounding the problem.
The Obesity Society says
type 2 diabetes is largely preventable,
and research shows
that lifestyle changes that
include small amounts of
weight loss (between fi ve and
10 percent of body weight)
can prevent or delay the onset
of type 2 diabetes. In fact,
managing weight is the best
thing a person can do to reduce
their risk for diabetes.
Losing as few as 10 pounds
can markedly improve insulin
resistance and make it
much easier to manage blood
sugar levels.
In addition to losing
weight, eating a healthy diet
and exercising regularly can
reduce a person’s risk of developing
diabetes. Lean proteins,
leafy green vegetables,
and complex carbohydrates
will not spike blood sugar
levels. Exercise helps burn
calories and boost metabolism,
and may even help the
body use insulin more effectively.
Type 2 diabetes can be a
chronic, debilitating condition
that leads to other illnesses.
But it is largely preventable,
and losing weight
and maintaining a healthy
weight are great ways to
lower your risk of diabetes.
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